Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, three months after dumping the African Democratic Congress over alleged rigged presidential primaries.
Lawal announced this development on Tuesday in Abuja, declaring total support for the NDC presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The former SGF, while speaking after his official reception into the opposition party, urged well-meaning Nigerians concerned about mounting insecurity, hunger and economic hardship to rally behind the NDC.
Lawal said, “Anybody in Nigeria who has the interest of our country at heart and sympathy for the suffering that is ongoing—along with insecurity, hunger, ignorance, and disease—will have no choice but to join a party that represents the future and has Peter and Kwankwaso as their candidates.
“Every sensible and patriotic Nigerian ought to understand this. It is now convincing to partner with the NDC to see to the fulfillment of the noble objective of installing Obi as president and Kwankwaso as vice president. By the grace of God, we look forward to May 29, 2027, to celebrate the feat properly for the good of our country and future generations.”
Receiving the former SGF, the National Leader of the NDC, Senator Seriake Dickson, described Lawal as a seasoned political organiser and activist whose experience will prove invaluable to the party’s momentum.
“Babachir Lawal needs no introduction. He is a former Secretary to the Government of our country who served well, but behind his official designations, he is a great mobiliser and political activist,” Dickson said.
The NDC leader criticised the ruling party for failing to deliver on its promises, stating, “He has seen parties that promised change but failed—parties that have taken our country from top to bottom and are now digging the ground to bury it. On behalf of the National Working Committee and our candidates, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, we welcome you.”
Dickson immediately assigned Lawal a key leadership mandate within the party hierarchy, putting him in charge of NDC campaigns across the North-Eastern geopolitical zone to provide strategic direction, resolve internal disputes and guide regional candidates.
Lawal’s defection is coming barely three months after his abrupt resignation from the ADC, where he publicly protested the conduct of the party’s presidential primary.
In a statement previously shared on his official Facebook page, Lawal alleged that the ADC primary process was fundamentally compromised and manipulated to favour former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, claiming that results were altered and declared winners were arbitrarily replaced.
